Dirty Bad Boys Box Set: Forbidden Romance Collection

“Must be a special occasion.”

“Just a party at Scarlett’s house. Did I tell you Ash and Logan are coming?”

I hear the pause, followed by the sound of the oven timer chiming in the background.

“Your brother will be the death of me. Did I tell you I had a lengthy conversation with Alessandra, or how he likes to call her, Sandy?”

“Was it over the wet towels on the bed?” I cringe because my brother’s a slob. “Or how he cuts his toenails in bed?”

“It was over them having an argument when he left. It seems she doesn’t understand his lifestyle. The traveling part. I tried to explain it without getting involved. The last thing I want to be known as is the nosey mother-in-law.”

“How about the mother-in-law who writes about cowboys getting it on in the barn with the farmer’s wife?”

“You laugh now, but that bestseller paid for your ballet lessons which you gave up after one recital,” she points out.

“Yeah, yeah… thanks, Mom,” I tease gently. “Listen, I have to go. Wish me luck.”

“Luck?” she questions. “With what, kid?”

Dammit. I haven’t been honest with Mom about what happened with Wesley. Every time she brings him up, I quickly answer then steer the conversation to a different subject. I don’t know why I struggle with it. Usually, I tell her everything. A part of me honestly believes if I told her the truth, it will make it harder to live a lie in front of the cameras.

“Things have been difficult between Wesley and me. I hope tonight we can relax,” I half admit.

“I figured that,” she soothes over the phone. “I’m here, kid. No judgment. Okay?”

“I know, Mom.”

We hang up the call and I feel a bit better about how I left things with us.

With my shoes now on, I slip into my dress when Wesley walks in. He knows better than to walk in unannounced but disregards my wishes, standing behind me wearing his designer jeans and a dark gray shirt with his sleeves rolled up.

I hate that a part of me still desires him. The part which remains confused and hurt by his actions.

If only his hands hadn’t touched someone else.

If only he didn’t think that destroyin

g our relationship was okay.

Taking a deep breath in, I turn around while placing my earrings on.

“You look good,” he says, adjusting his cuffs.

“Thank you. So do you, I guess.”

“You guess?” He places his hand on his heart, making a pained face with a smile. “Ouch. Okay, I deserve that.”

“You deserve a lot of things.”

“And not you, right?”

“You know where I stand with our relationship.”

Wes bows his head then lifts it again only for his eyes to meet mine and they’re full of desperation.

“It’s been weeks, Em, and the only time you’ve let me touch you is when we’re filming. Don’t you understand how sorry I am? I’d do anything to take it back, but I just can’t, okay?”

“This isn’t the time to talk about it. The limo should be downstairs waiting, and I forgot to tell you Ash and Logan are coming. We’ll pick them up,” I say quickly while grabbing my purse and checking my hair one more time, avoiding his apology.