“I am not your girl!” I screamed at him. “Leave me alone.”
James’ eyes met mine and softened a little before they turned cold once more and landed on Chad. “You need to leave this area of the boat right now, and I better not catch you back here again.”
Chad stared at James in disbelief before shaking his head with a smile. “Whatever, pops. She wasn’t worth it anyways.”
Pushing past James, Chad headed from my room and out of sight. My body sagged in relief at his departure as tears filled my eyes. Once again, I had allowed myself to be subjected to this ridiculousness instead of putting a stop to it.
And James… he had saved me once again.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly as he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. His warm, inviting eyes took in every aspect of my body, making me want to be closer to him.
Sighing, I force a smile onto my face. “Yeah. Just an unwanted guest.”
“Unwanted? Was that your ex, Becca?” he asked as he followed me across my room, watching me pull out a fresh shirt to put on.
“I mean. Yeah, he is,” I scoffed while shaking my head, trying to understand how my life could be so cynical right now. “Not that it honestly matters to anyone.”
“It matters to me, Becca.” His fingers grasped my arm and turned me to face him. “Why is he here?”
“Because your daughter allowed him to come and gave some bullshit excuse about him having to because he was staying with someone else.” I snapped.
His lips formed a tight, thin line as he let out a heavy breath. “I take it she is well aware of everything that happened between you and this man?”
“Uh, yeah,” I laughed. “So aware that after years of friendship, she doesn’t care. I’m honestly wondering what the point is, and also that I should probably consider leaving when we get back.”
His body went rigid at my comment as he seemed to think about what I was saying. “No.”
“No? What do you mean, no?” I asked in confusion.
“I mean no, you’re not leaving. You shouldn’t have to, and I will sort this out.”
Stepping forward, he wrapped his arms around my body and pulled me close to him. The smell of his cologne wrapped around me tightly, and I couldn’t help but melt into his embrace as I nestled my head against his chest.
“Thank you, but it doesn’t seem anyone honestly wants me here, James. I’m just getting in the way of whatever fun they are trying to have.” My admission was something that brought small tears to my eyes which I quickly blinked away.
“I want you here,” he whispered, looking down at me, his lips slowly lowering, and captivating mine in a soft and gentle kiss before he pulled back. “I will handle, Tally. Get some rest.”
I was left speechless by his remark. James was out of the door and down the hall before I could say anything. My mind left, trying to understand what had just happened.
He wanted me here… and not just that… the kiss had been softer and more gentle than any kiss he had given me before. Was this the true side of him?
Or was it possible he cared more for me than he was willing to admit?
My entire stay here was becoming complicated.
Perhaps it was time I cut my losses and ran.
James.
Fury flowed through me as I left Becca’s room. I couldn’t believe, once again, my daughter was proving to be just like her mother. She didn’t care about how Becca felt. It was all about her, and I wasn’t going to have it.
Even if Becca made it clear she didn’t want to move forward with what I was offering, it wasn’t right for my daughter to treat Becca the way she was.
Storming across the deck, I headed towards the front of the ship where the pool was located. I had no doubt Tally was there with the others, and as the pool came into view, I saw the truth.
My daughter wasn’t the person I thought she was, and it broke my heart.
They all sat around in and out of the pool, laughing and drinking while music played. And Tally was sitting in the lap of Chad… the disgust in my stomach was overbearing as I finally could see what kind of person she really was.
She was turning into her mother more and more every day, and I hated it.
I would end this kid, Chad, if he wasn’t careful.
“Tally!” I yelled over the music, catching her attention.
“Daddy!” she called out with a smile as she climbed from Chad’s lap and padded her way towards me. “This boat is amazing-“
“Enough,” I snapped, glaring down at her, her brows furrowing as confusion settled in.
“What’s wrong?” she asked with a pout. I knew better, though. She didn’t care.
“What the hell is that boy doing on my ship?” I asked, watching as realization sank in, and she looked over her shoulder at him with a flirtatious smile before turning back to me.
“He is a friend. Please don’t make a fuss out of this and embarrass me. Did Becca complain to you?” she sneered, placing her hands on her hips like a spoiled brat.
“Automatically, that’s your reaction?” I asked her.
Shaking her head, she scoffed, “I should have known she would have.”
“No, she didn’t, Taliana. I caught him manhandling her in her room as she screamed at him to leave her alone. He claimed she was his, and they were just arguing.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.