The Perfect Stroke (37 page)

Authors: Jordan Marie

“What?” White asks, acting as if he doesn’t believe it, and maybe he doesn’t. He’s never wanted them. He talks all the time how Green’s child destroyed his brother’s life. I don’t see it that way, but White never understood. “Kay, honey, you have plenty of time to have kids.”

“I’m twenty-seven years old, White. I may have plenty of time, but I want to have them while I’m young enough to do things with them. I want to start living my life. I want a family. I want a home with kids, a husband, and a dog…”

“Damn it, Kay, you can’t just wake up one day and decide you want to get married. It’s not done that way.”

“I didn’t just do it one day. You just haven’t listened. I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”

“Who is this man? You can’t really know him.”

I take a breath, knowing this will just make White worse. “Tommy Haynes.”

“
Cynthia’s ex?
” he almost screams. I wince and hold the phone away from my ear. It really is too early to be having this conversation.

“He hasn’t been with Cynthia in years,” I remind him.

“What-the-fuck-ever. That man is as shady as they come.”

“He is not! He’s a good guy and I like him.”

“See? That right there!
Like
. You can’t
like
the man you marry, Kay. You’re supposed to love him.”

“I’ll grow to love him.”

“Or hate him. Don’t do this, Kay. I’m begging you. Think about it for a little while. I didn’t even know you and Tommy were dating. Did you keep it hidden from me?”

“Do you blame me?”

“Damn it, Kay. We don’t keep things from each other.”

“Like you didn’t keep the fact that you slept with my sister Rachel from me?” I didn’t mean to say that out loud. I really and truly didn’t. I wonder if he can tell the bitterness in my voice. Can he hear the hurt? That’s the real reason I agreed to marry Tommy. White sleeping with Rachel was the final straw, the shining beacon that said I was wasting my life dreaming about a man who would never see me as more than a buddy.

“She told you?” White says quietly.

I swallow. Did he ask her not to? Is that why she hadn’t mentioned it? God, why does it feel like the two people I love the most in the world betrayed me? Why? I shouldn’t feel that way. I shouldn’t be mad or hurt…
but
I am.

“Did you ask her not to?”

“Well, we both thought that…”

“It’s okay, White. It’s not any of my business. But that’s just it. If I want to marry Tommy, then you should support me. We’re friends. That’s what friends do.”

“Kay…”

“Listen, I’ve got to go. I’m running late for work. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“Kay, we really should…”

“Bye, White,” I say, not giving him time to talk anymore, and I hang up. I stare at the phone in my hand for a few more minutes. I hung up the phone on White. It feels wrong. It feels… like the end of an era, and I guess it is. I’m going to marry Tommy Haynes. Things have to change.

I keep repeating that all the way to work. Somehow, it doesn’t help.

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Unjustified Demands, written under my pen name Baylee Rose!

I own her. She will submit.
She doesn't have a choice.
ROMAN
I own this town.
People don’t tell me no.
If they try, they regret it.
I live my life to please no one, but myself.
One look at Ana and I wanted to play with her.
To test her. To find her secrets. To make her my toy.
Until I grow bored.
But Ana surprises me.
One taste and I keep wanting more.
She submits to my demands.
But with each encounter, I find I want more.
Now I want her to submit more than just her body.
I want her heart.
And I
always
get what I want.
This book is a standalone containing a controlling, dominating Alpha and the woman with a secret that could bring him to his knees. Contains instant lust, immediate sex, and a taste for kink and makes no apologies.

Contains adult situations and not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Guaranteed Happily-Ever-After inside, because every woman should have one.

BAYLEE ROSE

This book is a work of fiction. Owned, created and copyrighted by the author. Any similarity to real events, people, or places is entirely coincidental. Some names were used to further the reader’s enjoyment and imagination, but are no way endorsees of this book. All rights are reserved. This book may not be reproduced, or distributed in any format without the permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations used for review purposes.

All quotations used in this book are part of public domain works and/or translated copies existing in public domains. The author acknowledges the use of trademarked status of products referred to in this book. Trademarks have been used without permission.

This book contains adult content including graphic sex, violence, and language. Please do not continue reading if you are under the age of 18 or if this type of content is disturbing to you in any way.

Cover Design:
Yoly Cortez with
Cormar Covers

Cover Photography:
Eric David Battershell

Cover Models:
Ani Saliasi
& Anna Medvedeva

Formatting and Editing:
Daryl Banner

Dedication

To everyone who had a dream and never gave up.

Always believe.

Baylee