Love, Honor, and Betray by Roby, Lawson (ebook reader ink txt) 📕

my publicist has just about finished confirmingall my tour events. I can’t believe my first book is actually being released in four months.”

“I believe it.”

“It’s so exciting, and I hope it’ll be a good time out on the road.”

“You’ll have the best time ever, and you know I’ll try to make it to as many of your events as I can.”

“I really appreciate that, Daddy.”

“I’m glad it’s in the summer so Matt won’t have to miss any school. You know he would die if he couldn’t come see you.”

“Isn’t that the truth. But you know I want him there, too. I want everyone there.”

Curtis walked down the hallway to Curtina’s room to check on her. “Oh, and hey. How’s your mom?”

“She’s fine. Actually, she asked about you, too, just this morning. She wanted to know if you were also working on anotherbook and how you were doing.”

“You’ll have to tell her I said hello when you speak to her again.”

“I will.”

“Hey, you wanna speak to your big sister?” Curtis said to Curtina and then gave her the phone. He smiled as she spoke nonstopgibberish. When he figured Alicia had heard enough of it, he took the phone back and Curtina continued watching her video.

“Okay, it’s me again.”

“Curtina is so funny,” Alicia said. “But I love hearing her voice.”

“You’ll have to come visit us when you get some time.”

“Actually, Phillip and I were planning on coming down on Sunday for service, but since it’ll be Valentine’s Day, we decidedto celebrate here. We’ll be down the next Sunday, though, for sure.”

“Sounds good. Can’t wait to see you.”

“I can’t wait either. Anyway, Daddy, I’d better get back to my revisions and then get something to eat. But I’ll call youin a couple of days.”

“You take care, sweetheart.”

“You, too, Daddy. Love you.”

“I love you back.”

Curtis ended the call and thought about calling Charlotte. They hadn’t spoken since before she’d left, and he wondered howshe was doing. But then he thought about the fact that she hadn’t bothered to contact him either, and how even when Matthewhad asked her if she’d wanted to speak to him yesterday, she’d said no. Matthew hadn’t told Curtis what she’d said exactly,but Curtis had been standing around the corner and had heard Matthew’s part of the conversation. He’d even heard him questioningher about her dislike for Curtina and had wondered what Charlotte’s response had been.

Curtis continued debating whether he should call Charlotte, but then something came over him: resentment, disappointment,and anger. So much so that at that very second he decided he was through begging and pleading with her to work things outwith him. From this point on, he would leave their reconciliation up to her. He would wait until she came to him, saying howsorry she was and how she was finally ready to call a cease-fire. He would wait for a little while, but if she didn’t cometo her senses soon, well…

Chapter 22

The long, sleek, black stretch limo wound around the curve of the subdivision and turned into the driveway. Next, the driverstepped out of the vehicle and opened the door for Charlotte, and she got out and typed in the code to open the security gate.As it slid open, Charlotte got back into the vehicle, and the driver continued up to the house. This morning, Charlotte hadreally started to miss Matthew and couldn’t wait to see him, but she already dreaded seeing Curtis and his baby sidekick.She’d had a wonderful time in West Palm Beach, and thanks to Michael she hadn’t had to think about her husband or his daughterfor three full days. As a matter of fact, this was part of the reason she couldn’t wait to see Michael again. He’d been theperfect gentleman, and even now she couldn’t stop thinking about the effect he had on her sexually. She couldn’t get overhow good he still was in bed. Even during her three-hour flight home, she’d spent most of it fantasizing about him and daydreamingabout the next time they would have a chance to be together.

When they arrived in the circle portion of the driveway and directly in front of the house, the driver got out and openedthe door for Charlotte again. Then he pulled her luggage from the trunk. Charlotte walked up the steps and opened the frontdoor with her key, and the driver walked in and set down both her garment and overnight bags.

“Thanks so much for everything, Carlisle,” she said, passing him a fifty-dollar bill. “I know the standard gratuity is alwaysadded on to the bill when the reservation is made, but I just want you to have a little extra.”

“That’s very kind of you, Mrs. Black, and I really do appreciate it.”

“No problem, and you take care.”

“You, too. I’ll see you next time.”

Charlotte closed the door behind him, but as soon as she did, Matthew came down the stairway.

“Hey, Mom,” he said, hugging her. “I’m so glad you’re back.”

“Hi, honey. It’s good to be back, too.”

“You want me to take your stuff up to your room?”

Charlotte smiled at how thoughtful her son was. “That would be nice, so thank you for that.”

Matthew picked up her bags and started back up to the second level. “So, you know the Saints won, right?”

“Yeah, I saw that. And I’m sure you’re thrilled to death about that,” she said as she followed him.

“I am. I told Dad they were going to win, but he decided to keep rooting for those losers. And I’ve been razzing him aboutit ever since.”

Charlotte laughed. “I’m sure you have. But hey, how was school today?”

“Well, while we were in the cafeteria having lunch, the police showed up and finally arrested Mr. Rush.”

“Good.”

“They didn’t handcuff him at first. But then, a few of us got up and looked out of the window and saw his hands bent behindhis back and the police helping him into one of their cars. It wasn’t a regular police car, though; it was the kind detectivesdrive. We also heard that a second girl has come