The bar was crowded and everyone seemed engrossed in their own doing. Gina pulled her jacket closer towards her body and avoided as many gazes as she could while looking around for signs of Fred.
Every fibre in her body was telling her to leave but curiosity fought against everything. She knew the risk involved being here and knew that her stupidity would maybe come back to bite her in the ass, but she was already there. She came this far; she just hoped Knox never found out about this.Gina's attention was drawn to the back where a man was waving his hand and it was then did she realise it was Fred. Pulling in a breath, she straightened her shoulders and walked towards him.
"This better be good," she said as she took a seat on the opposite end. Fred took a moment to roam his gaze cryptically over her, while Gina replicated the same inspection. He looked the same Gina realised, even though she wasn't expecting much of a change. She realised though that his beard was growing.
"You look great, as always," he complimented with a smile.
"What is this about Fred? I didn't come here so I could waste my time," she stated firmly, which in actuality she did, but he didn't have to know that.
"Can I get you something to drink first?" he offered, his eyes settled on hers.
"No," came the abrupt reply that had him silent. But thinking she was being a bit harsh to an always sweet Fred, Gina guiltily hung her head. "I'm fine, thanks."
"How are you?"
She shifted in her seat. "I'm...great," she said with as much joy as she could muster, watching as Fred read her face to see if that was in fact true.
He managed a smile and nodded as if he was happy to hear it. "I um... I thought you should know that my main reason for moving to L.A. was you..." Gina opened her mouth to argue but Fred beat her to it. "Just hear me out please."
She said nothing after, waiting for him to continue while she thought she was beginning to regret meeting him.
"I've loved you long before I even knew it myself and I wanted to build something with you when I came here, but plans have a way of changing, don't they?"
Gina swallowed hard. "Fred-"
"I understand that you love someone else Gina and that's fine, but it won't change the fact that I still love you regardless of everything that has happened," he continued to say while Gina's throat tightened with the emotions confining it.
If things had been different then Fred would have been the perfect man, but she was in love with Knox. She was happy with him even though her heart broke for Fred.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
He reached across the table to hold her hands. "Don't be... Don't be," he consoled softly before clearing his throat. "I'm leaving for Portland soon... To stay... And I want you to come with me. I see that you're happy Gina, but you could be so much happier and I can make that happen. Just give me a chance."
YOU ARE READING
The Marriage Bed
RomancePassion. Price. Possession There are only two things Gina Gray loves more than her six inch heels and her penthouse suite: Sex and her family. When her father proposes an arranged marriage to save their family business, Gina is shocked - even more...