Starter Wife (The Jilted Wives Club Book 1) Bethany Lopez (phonics books TXT) 📖

“What do you say?”

I bit my lower lip and nodded maybe a little too enthusiastically.

“Yes. I’d love to.”

Luca’s face seemed to radiate happiness at my response. He gave me a quick kiss on the lips and said, “Fantastic. I have to get back out there, but I will see you tonight.”

I nodded again as he opened the door and slipped out of the room.

I was frozen as all of the things I would need to do flashed through my mind.

I tried to remember if I still had any sexy underwear, just as the realization that Luca would probably want to see me completely naked hit.

When was the last time I’d shaved my legs? I’d have to go home to shower and do a complete body polish before dinner. Shave, lotion up, maybe put concealer in certain areas. I was pretty sure I still had some bronzer with glitter I’d been saving for a special occasion. Should I use that, or would it be too much?

“I need to call Margo,” I whispered, and finally unstuck myself enough to open the door and hurry back to my desk, where my phone was currently sitting.

But when I rounded the corner, I came up short when I saw Silas sitting in my chair.

I racked my brain, and when I couldn’t come up with a reason why he’d be there, I automatically went into panic mode.

“Did something happen? Is Stella okay?” I asked in a jumble of words before I’d even reached him.

“Huh?” he asked, stopping the chair mid-twirl and giving me a puzzled expression. “Where were you?”

I ran my hands through my hair and hoped I didn’t look freshly kissed. It was my place of work, after all, and although I should be ashamed, I wasn’t. Still, it wasn’t the kind of example I wanted to set for my son.

“The supply room,” I replied. “So, everything’s okay?”

“Yeah,” Silas said, his gaze on my empty hands. “Geo and the guys decided they wanted to come downtown for dinner and the movies, so I was hoping you could give me some money.”

“Oh, yeah, of course,” I said with relief. I bent to open the drawer and get out my purse, then handed him a credit card. “Just use this. Are the guys with you?”

Si nodded and said, “Outside. I didn’t figure you’d want all of us coming into your office.”

“Good thinking,” I said, then, since he was alone, I pulled him in for a quick hug. “I love you. Have fun tonight and be good.”

“Love you, too. Thanks for the card.”

I nodded and smiled as I watched him walk away. My growing boy who was no longer a child, but not yet a man.

I was about to sit back at my desk when I remembered, “Coffee,” and turned to go back in the direction I’d come.

Twenty-Four

Luca

I looked around my office to make sure everything was shut off and I was good to go for the night.

Now that I knew Whitney was coming not just for dinner, but the night, I needed to give myself time to stop at the store to pick up a few things, then go home and straighten up and get everything ready for her arrival.

I was whistling as I moved down the hall and got in the elevator, so caught up in my own intentions that I didn’t realize Silas was also on the elevator until the door closed.

“Hey, Si, how’s it going? You just visiting your mom?” I asked good-naturedly.

I was honestly happy to see him.

Silas looked over at me, his gaze taking in my loafers and suit before settling on my face.

“Yeah, just for a minute,” he replied, his tone nowhere near as friendly as it had been at his house.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah, but since it’s just the two of us, I have something I wanna say.”

“Okay…”

“You seem like a nice guy and all, but we all thought my dad was a nice guy too, and, well … he isn’t. She had a really hard time when my dad left. She tried to hide it from us, but Stella and I both heard her crying when she thought we weren’t around. It took a long time for her to be happy again. Now she has her job and Summer and Margo … and you. But she’s never gonna get married again. I’ve heard her say it. And she doesn’t need you around if you’re going to end up leaving and breaking her heart. She doesn’t need you at all.”

His jaw clenched and his eyes were glassy, so I knew he was trying not to get emotional and was failing.

I thought about what he said and tried to put myself in his shoes, to really understand what he was feeling.

“Silas,” I began, keeping my tone gentle. “I really like your mom. I think she’s strong, funny, smart, and beautiful. Just all-around amazing. And we are still getting to know each other, but I do know a bit about what she went through with your dad, what you all went through, and I’m sorry you had to deal with that. It couldn’t have been easy. And I get that your family is finally in a good place again and you probably resent the fact that I’m here and inserting myself into your lives. But I’m not going to hurt your mom, okay? And I’m not going to try and replace your dad.”

“I’m fourteen,” Silas said indignantly. “I don’t need a dad. And I’m pretty sure everyone says they aren’t going to hurt the person they’re with, right before they do.”

“You’re right, and you’re a smart kid, but I hope you’ll believe me when I say my intentions toward your mom are honorable. I really enjoy spending time with her, and getting to know you and your sister, and I hope you’ll be open to me being around more. I’m not trying to rush anything, and I would never intentionally do anything to