“How? She’ll never forgive me. I ruined her life.”
“Give her your blessing.”
“Blessing? Blessing for what?”
“To be with me. To marry me. Let me take care of her.”
He rubs a hand over his face.
“She doesn’t need anyone to take care of her.”
I chuckle. “Oh, I know. But she deserves it. I can make her life easier. I can make her happy. And more important, I’ll love her with everything I have.”
“She could do better than you, Archer.”
“You think I don’t know that? Of course I know that.”
“Then let her go,” he pleads. I know it’s not because I’m an Archer. This is a man being protective of her daughter.
“No. You know why? Because no man could ever love your daughter more than I do. I could do us all a favor and walk away, but the way I feel about her, she’ll never have that from anyone else. It’s impossible.”
Blackwood’s jaw clenches, but then he really looks at me. “You did come here. After everything, you came here to talk to me.”
“Yes, after everything, I came here,” I repeat. The importance of that is so deep. So important nothing else matters. “She loves you, you know. Despite everything, the lies, the hurt…she loves you.”
“I fucked up.”
“You did. And I’ll pick her up, help her find her way again. She doesn’t have to do it alone anymore. But give her this. Give her this one thing.”
“Does she feel the same way?”
God, she’d better!
“Yes.”
“What if I don’t give you my blessing?”
“I don’t care if you do or don’t. I’m marrying her one way or another. If you say no, it’s just another hurt you’d give her. And just one more time I’ll pick her up and comfort her from something you’ve done. This is me giving you the opportunity to do one thing right.”
He nods, and I see him brush his eyes dry. “You’ve turned out to be a fine man. I’m sorry about your father. I know that means nothing to you and there are no words that can fix—”
“No, there aren’t,” I say coldly.
“But, he was a good man. Honorable. Trusting. Too trusting, like my daughter.” I listen to him with mixed emotions. He looks old and frail. Nothing like the man I remembered going on vacations with.
“You take care of her, Archer.”
“Always.”
Blackwood’s eyes don’t leave mine as the guard shuffles him out of the courtyard and back inside.
I’m hopeful Blackwood will make the right decision.
Helen
“I have to hand it to you, Helen. I didn’t think this would work for a bedroom. But it’s perfect,” Marshall says. There were some issues with permits and inspections, and then the furniture I ordered didn’t get here on time. So, everything was delayed. It’s been hell keeping Alex away from the new room, but luckily he had a meeting in Seattle this weekend, which gave me time to move things around and have the furniture delivered.
“It looks so good, right?” I point a remote toward the dome, press a button, and the blinds close. Sweet. “And if we open the double doors, we’re practically right on the bay.” I inhale and smell the salty ocean breeze.
After Marshall leaves, I adjust the new bedspread on the bed. Alex should be arriving any time now.
I hear the front door open and close and I quickly run out to greet him. “Hi! How was Seattle? I have a surprise for you!”
“Uh-oh…what did you do?”
“Why do you think I’ve done something wrong?”
“When you start talking real fast like that, it’s usually not good news.”
“Hush! Come on. I have a surprise for you! The addition’s finished. Passed inspection and it’s all done.”
“About damn time.”
I pull him by the arm, excitedly. “Before you open that door, I want you to have an open mind.”
“This is not giving me a good feeling,” he teases.
“Trust me, it’s going to be fine. You’re going to love it.”
He opens the door and walks in.
It’s mostly my taste, with a hint of the modern sleekness he seems to like. Or, maybe he thinks that’s what will help it sell better; I’m not sure. But I decorated in the hopes that he won’t sell it. That he’ll fall in love with it so much, he’ll decide to keep it.
He’s walking around the room, touching the bedspread, opening and closing the drawers of the new chest. He doesn’t say a word. I have an urge to fill the silence, but instead I shut my mouth and allow him to process everything. “What happened to my office?”
“I decided it should be in the room where you had your bedroom. I swapped it out.”
“Baby, we’ll be woken up every morning the second the sun rises.” He looks up at the roof.
Excitedly, I press the button on the remote. “No, we won’t. See?”
He watches in fascination as the dome closes. “Wow. Okay, so…I’m speechless.”
“Look!” I squeal, and open the set of double doors that open unto a small path that leads down to a patio overlooking the bay. I’ve decorated it with a set of Adirondack chairs and a little table. It’s a slice of heaven. “It’s so cozy, right?” I inhale the ocean breeze. “Breathe, Alex. It’s so fresh and salty. I love it here, don’t you?”
“I do,” he says sincerely. “You did a great job. It wouldn’t have occurred to me to make this the master suite, but it’s perfect.”
“I loved planning it. It was fun, and I think I might be good at it. In fact…Marshall actually offered me a small job designing a room for a new client of his.”
Alex
I eye her suspiciously. I knew I didn’t like that Marshall guy.
“Relax, caveman. It’s just work and I really enjoy it. I think I’m going to take it. Maybe I can even take some college courses in interior design—what do you think? I’m too old for that, right?”
Again, she’s blabbering. It’s my favorite quality of hers. Why I thought she could deceive us is ridiculous. The woman is the worst liar in the world. She starts blabbering and before you’ve had a chance to call her out on her lies, she’s already told you she lied. It’s charming. “You’re not too old. I think it’s an excellent idea. And if working makes you happy, then I’m happy.”
“Good, because the project is for my old boss, Iggy’s, new house.”
“Damn it.”
I bet Iggy planned this. I didn’t like the man when I met him at Duality and I certainly don’t like the thought of my woman being in his house. But, part of this relationship thing is to trust her. So I smile and pretend I’m one hundred percent on board with her working with Marshall and Iggy.
Her phone rings and she looks down at the screen, the light in her eyes fading. “It’s my dad.” She’s about to swipe the ignore button when I take the phone from her.
“Answer it. I know you want to. It’s killing you not to talk to him. Answer it.”
She hesitates and then swipes up.
I watch her from one of the Adirondack chairs. She moves her hands and paces back and forth, her long hair whipping around with the wind. I’m worried about this conversation, but I have to let things play out. The ball’s in her father’s court to make the right decision.
When I see her frown slowly turn to a smile, I know her father made the right decision.
Satisfied, I turn around and face the bay. When she’s done, she comes around and sits on my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“Thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Yes, you did.” She tucks her head in the crook of my neck and we spend the rest of the afternoo
n in our home. Happy.
Something neither of us ever thought we’d be.
Especially not with each other.
Dedicated to all the strong and confident women in my life. (It doesn’t make you less than to hate roaches and spiders.)
Acknowledgments
2018 has been one for the books! It is a year I will never forget for many reasons.
I hope you love Alex and Helen as much as I do. Alex was such a fun character to write. He is so very flawed, and I love that about him. Helen is a survivor. Of all my heroines, she’s the one I think is most like me. She has a tough exterior, holds her head up high and puts on a confident front for the world even when she’s a squishy, gelatin mess on the inside.
What About Us has been the most difficult book I’ve written. My father got very sick while I was in the middle of writing this story and, as a consequence, my creative juices just disappeared. Now that months have gone by and my father is somewhat better, I’m starting to find my writing mojo. However, while I made my escape from the book world to take care of my family, there were a bunch of people who stood by me and were there to keep my FB page active, to keep me sane, and just…were there for me. So, ladies of Sidney’s Tribe, especially Heather, Leisha, Amanda, Bip, Jenny, and everyone else who read early copies of WAU and helped me when I needed help…from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! Love you all.
I also can’t thank my agent, Sarah Elizabeth Younger (and her wonderful PA, Ellie) enough for reading a terrible first (or half-assed) first draft and just for being there for me through a very tough year. And Junessa Viloria, my wonderful editor, who was so accommodating in giving me extension after extension without making me feel the pressure of meeting deadlines. And, for not throwing away that dreaded half-assed first draft. But instead, for holding my hand and leading me toward the right direction so that I have a perfect final version for you all to read. I am so grateful that you are both in my corner.
My readers—goodness, what would I do without your support? There are not enough thank-yous in the world! Because of you, I get to do what I love.
And finally, to my family, especially my husband. Words cannot express how unbelievably grateful I am to have you! You are all of my heros wrapped up in one! You show me what unconditional love is every day by being the best support system anyone can have. Love you, kid.
BY SIDNEY HALSTON
Worth the Fight Series
Against the Cage
Full Contact
Below the Belt
Laid Out
Fighting Dirty
Stacked Up
Panic Series
Pull Me Close
Make Me Stay
Kiss Me Back
What About Us
PHOTO: © GABRIEL ESCUDERO
SIDNEY HALSTON lives her life by one simple rule: “Just do it.” And that’s exactly what she did. At the age of thirty, having never written anything other than a legal brief, she picked up a pen for the first time to pursue her dream of becoming an author. That first stroke sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing. Halston lives in south Florida with her husband and children.
sidneyhalston.com
Facebook.com/Sidneyhalston
Twitter: @SidneyHalston
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