Read Online Fighting Desire (Bay State Series Book 2) by Tiffany Hachey - Free Book Online

Hampton, I'll take a raincheck. Sounds like fun. But in my fantasy it was a private beach and we were surrounded by friends and family.”
    Shit.
    I stiffen momentarily, obviously not brief enough to go unnoticed.
    “I'm sorry.” She says as she pulls away from me slightly.
    I pull her closer to me again. “Don't be. This is my hang up, not yours. I love you Sarah, I'm just a little jaded on the constitution of marriage. It's not that I don't ever want to get married again because I do. It's just too soon.” Just sitting there holding her, I hear her sniffle. “Please baby don't cry.” Fuck. Here I go again hurting her.
    “It's okay Brent really, I don't know why I thought it was a good thing to mention something like that so soon. It was just a silly daydream.” She quiets down after a few minutes.
    I pull her face up to mine for a quick kiss. “Come on lets go eat, we can see the rest of the house and then we'll go back to my place.”
    She just nods her head and follows me to where Braydon and Ilyanna are standing. We help them bring the food over to the table. Conversation between us as we eat is seldom. I can't help but think I may have put us a step in the wrong direction when my reflex reaction betrayed me. I would marry her tomorrow if I could. I still have a lot to prove to her. I'm doing it right this time.
    “So how's Luke been?” Ilyanna asks Sarah as we're cleaning up the patio.
    Sarah lights up as she talks about her brother. “He's been feeling a lot better lately, We're hopeful that he won't need any more treatments. The doctors say the worst is behind us now. We're going to visit him this weekend.”
    I hate that time in her life when he was in the hospital fighting his cancer. The fact that she used to dance naked in front of other men makes me nauseous. I try not to think about it that often if at all. At the same time I have a certain respect for her that she could be so selfless and step out of her comfort zone so he could get the treaments needed to beat it. She'd said that it was the quickest way for her to make the kind of money she needed to help her parents with the bills. Of course they had no idea where the payments were coming from. She kept them anonymous. She has such a big heart and I'm so thankful to have a part of it.
    “I'm glad. What you've told me about him, he seems like good kid.”
    “He's the best. Although a little cranky lately, honestly can't say I blame him though.” I hear her respond as I walk into the house with Braydon, arms loaded down with dishes. Carrying them to the sink I rinse them off and put them in the dishwasher.
    “Thanks, you didn't have to do that.” He tells me as he puts the condiments in the fridge.
    “No problem, I don't mind. Growing up it was expected of me to help around the house. My mom would always say she was getting me ready for the real world. If I didn't learn to clean up after myself nobody else was gonna do it for me.” Thinking back on better times with my Mom, I can't help but get a little sad. I haven't talked to her in so long but I won't let myself feel guilty, the solitude was her own doing. I've decided a long time ago to keep the things that I can't change in the past under lock and key, right where they belong and move forward with my life. If I didn't it would slowly gnaw away at any and everything good in my life.
    I can see Sarah through the sliding doors and she looks so happy. I can't help but feel I have a lot to do with that. I smile to myself and watch as she and Ilyanna head into the house. “Are you about ready?  I told Ilyanna I would start back at the office tomorrow so I want to get home and get some house work done before bed.”
    “You're not coming back to my place?” I ask, suddenly feeling hurt. Did my reaction have that much of an impact on her feelings?
    She shakes her head, eyes cast down towards the floor. “I thought I'd just go home tonight.” The last part was said so low I barely heard the