Page 86 of Fake It Till You Make It

“Exactly.”

“Wrong again. I’m happier without you, Cara. Thank you for leaving so I didn’t have to. At the time, I wouldn’t have handled that well. You running off with Sven-Steven was the best thing for both of us.”

“Eli, you promised to love me. We took vows and you’re a man of your word.”

“A husband made a promise to his wife. Neither of us are those two people anymore.”

“Vows are forever. How can you be so callous when it’s obvious I’m upset?”

“I don’t care if you are upside-down. What you have to do is get back on the high horse you rode in here on and get out of Service. You never liked it here. Go on back to the city. Live your life.”

“I could like it,” she blurted. “You used to want to make me happy. If I stayed in town for a few days, gave you time to think about us. What we had…” she trailed off and moved closer. When she lifted her hand as if to touch him, Eli narrowed his eyes.

“Don’t,” he warned. “I don’t belong to you anymore.”

“We were married for almost a year, Eli. You actually think after only five months divorced that you’re serious about this Amarie character?” she huffed, her tone loaded with envy and doubt.

“Don’t forget about the cheating part.”

“How can I? You won’t allow it. Everything has to be your way, the Calvary legacy,” she mocked. “How about you grow up? People cheat all the time, Eli. Move on.”

“How ’bout you take your own advice?” he bellowed.

“You loved being married to me, Eli Calvary. I know it. You know it. So if you think some country wallflower is going to keep you satisfied a year from now, you’ve forgottenhow good I am at satisfying you. How right I am for you,” she crooned.

“Cara, enough. Whatever you planned, it won’t work. Trust me, darling, your kitty isn’t the only one that purrs. I’m going home now.”

“Fine.” She grabbed her designer tote bag and miniature toy poodle from the faded couch behind his desk. He didn’t know if the dog had made a sound the whole time she’d been here.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“With you, duh. This town still doesn’t have a hotel or a decent restaurant.”

Amarie sashayed in, looking from him to Cara. “Oh, she’s still here. Why?”

“I’m not the one going somewhere—well, that’s not actually true. Eli and I are going home. You can lock up after we leave,” Cara challenged, lifting her left hand where the one-carat diamond solitaire he’d given her gleamed even in this light. “He was my husband. I’m the first and only woman he’s ever given a ring to.”

“Aw.” Amarie grinned. “I speak mean girl, too. Trust me, you don’t want to battle to the death. I will annihilate you.”

Eli grinned, shaking his head. Amarie had more surprises in store for him. She never backed down, just charged ahead without any backup. Not that he would’ve stood by if his old flame had tried anything.

Cara, who was not used to being confronted, took a step back. The depth of his feelings for his woman exploded.

“Sugar dumpling,” Amarie cooed.

“Yea, babe?” Eli grinned.

“The Kitty Kibbles contracts, I printed them for you to review, please. Grab them before you leave. You should understand what you’re turning down. And just in case you change your mind, tomorrow is the last day to sign.”

“I’m on it.”

Just then, Leah came strolling in with a blanket and a pillow.

“Amarie, your mom needs help settling in upstairs. She’s asking for you.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Before she could turn to walk away, Eli pulled her back, placing a long, deep kiss on her lips.