Filed To Story: The Lingering Kiss of Farewell Novel
She shook her head but said nothing, she should have expected it. “I also hear.” Wil went on “That you told him you recalled receiving the divorce papers and the moment between you two at the airport.”
“I did.” She nodded. “I, however, still don’t know what made him actually ask for the divorce. Did I do something wrong?”
“No you didn’t. He was going to ask you the day before but you kind of stumped him with something you said, and he changed his mind, didn’t want to seem cruel in your eyes.”
“Right.” she nodded.
“So, you remember everything then?” Wil asked. “My lovely wife, just smiles at me and shakes her head when. Task things” She saw him narrow his eyes on Anabell, and she looked at Anabell, who was smiling at Wil
“Client confidentiality.” She chuckled.
Marilyn smiled, they’d not really changed much over the years she could see, still tormenting each other in a good, happy fun way. They’d had a good relationship, and now it seemed a good marriage as well. That was nice to see.
“Not everything, but I’d say a good fair chunk of it Wil. I recall how arrogant he was the day he wanted me to sign the papers. I also recall telling you I wasn’t going to do it on the spot without reading it.”
“Came in to my office, and laid the law down,” Wil nodded. “That was the first time I ever saw your temper think.”
Hmm, what can I say, I got one. It just takes a lot to set it off, I’d rather just move through life without complications, but it seems my heart wanted something it couldn’t have.”
“You could have it, even now if you wanted to, and all it would take, Marilyn, is just one kiss.” Wil smiled. You’ve even got the perfect set up for it here, a New Year’s kiss.”
She raised an eyebrow at him, “That is not going to happen.” She stated simply, and it wasn’t, but if Calvin thought it was appropriate to kiss her here on this very night, he was very wrong.
She and Anabell went to get changed an hour before everyone was supposed to arrive, and she pulled on that dress she’d packed, and saw Anabell stare at her “Oh please, let me do your hair.”
“Sure.” had been her only comment.
She knew as soon as her hair was done, Anabell had set out to make her look more like Marilyn. She’d curled her hair from the half-way point down and then pulled it half up. “You aiming to cause trouble at your own party?” Marilyn asked her.
“Maybe I’m just helping you.” Anabell chuckled. “There will be a few people here that know you and know Calvin. It will be an interesting night. You’ll likely get a lot of stares, but I will introduce you as Marilyn Riddley, author, and I don’t think Calvin will grace us with his presence right at 8pm, he likes to be fashionably late.”
“Hmm always turned up 30 to 60 minutes after an event started. He told me he hated having to do the meet and greet and would rather just stroll in unnoticed for the most part and have people go ‘oh hey I didn’t know you were here’.” Marilyn nodded. “Sometimes even I got there before he did, to what he called lesser events.” She was introduced to several people as they arrived that she didn’t know, but they all smiled, nodded or shook her hand, and a few just stared at her, and she heard one murmur ‘I hope Calvin doesn’t turn up, or we’re all getting a real fireworks show.’
‘ke this, but it was She was happy to mingle and chat with anyone. It had been a while since she’d socialis nice and easy to fall back into as well. She knew when he arrived, even though she was sitting chatting with a few of the women, because a hush fell over the crowd and one person stated “Calvin Reeves just walked in the door.” in a hushed but audible tone.
She heard him greet Wil and Anabell and found two of the women she’d been talking to just kind of staring at her, one with a ‘I’m sorry look.’ And the other kind of had pity on her face. She just smiled and ignored it, knew. it was coming. He didn’t walk right over to her, accepted a glass of champagne from Wil and wandered about talking to others in the room. Though, like old times, she could feel his eyes were on her at times. She knew what it felt like to be under his direct gaze.
She was out leaning on the balcony and nearly everyone came outside when the count-down started, to wait for the fireworks that were going to be set off for the city to see. She stepped away from it, they were all couples.
She found herself face to face with Calvin and his eyes moved over her, the dress she was wearing. She’d seen him have more than one drink, probably one too many by the way he was looking at her. He placed his glass down on a nearby table as the clock struck twelve and stepped over to her.
She shook her head at him to indicate no, and he smiled and reached out a hand to touch her hair, “Do you know how beautiful you look.” He stated, as his eyes fell to her mouth.
Oh! He bloody wouldn’t. Not once in their three years of marriage had he kissed her, not even for the ring in.
He’d get up all close and personal just like he was doing now, cage her in and lean down, place his lips to her jaw and kiss his way to her ear or down her neck. It looked to those around them that he was kissing her. But never once had he and if he thought now was an appropriate time he was dead wrong.
She backed up away from him, knew what he was like when he wanted her. She didn’t think it was going to be any different right this minute either. She could see how green his eyes were. She hit the wall behind her and his hand was next to her face, half caged her in “Happy New Year.” He murmured, and his other hand curled around her neck while his thumb pressed to her chin and tilted her face up to his.
His mouth lowered, and she knew he was actually going to kiss her for real. Well, not here and not like this, she thought and reached up and grabbed a fist full of his hair and yanked his head back and away from her with all she had.
His eyes widened, and he gasped in pain as he stared down at her. “How dare you try and kiss me?” she grated out and kicked him right in the shin as she let him go and heard him grunt in pain. “When you wouldn’t even kiss your wife, yet you dare to try and kiss me.” she bit out in a hushed angry tone, and stalked off away from him.
Heard him mutter “What the fuck.” And had to keep her composure and not laugh. She’d not know how she was going to pull that man’s hair tonight and had managed to do it: and she knew with the same effort he’d put into it when pulling her hair that day on the street.
She could hear Wil rounding on him about what the hell did he expected. As she grabbed her bag and left the apartment, the minute the door was shut behind her, she put a hand to her mouth and covered the laugh as it finally escaped her; that had been easier said than done. Oh, how sweet a feeling it was to pay that man back, and the kick to the shin. Well, he deserved it.
She pressed the elevator button as she heard a door open and snap shut, and turned to see him walking this way. “Oh for the love of God, what now?” she muttered, but made it loud enough for him to hear.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.