Free Beauty From Love by Georgia Cates Page A

moves from her reach and places his arm in front of me. It’s to hold me back because he knows I could go for blood any second. “Lana, I don’t remember us ever being good together. You’re just somebody I used to know.” He reaches for my hand. “I love my wife with all my heart and we couldn’t be happier.”
    “I know you, Jack. You don’t keep any woman around for long. You need variety—and I’m okay with that—but she won’t be.” She walks toward the house and calls out over her shoulder. “Emma will know how to reach me once the shine is knocked off your new bride.”
    That was absolutely humiliating—being told by a woman that she used to fuck my husband—and no less than like a champion. It’s almost as if she said that knowing it would hit home with me. I want to strangle them both.
    I stand motionless as reality sinks in. I married a man with many women in his past. This is the third time I’ve been humiliated by one of his previous lovers and I strongly suspect it won’t be the last. “How many times do I have to go through this?”
    He puts his hands on my shoulders, maybe because he’s afraid I’ll bolt. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know she was invited. We wouldn’t have come had I known.”
    I’m guessing she’s Emma’s friend if she’s at her party, so why wouldn’t he have considered her being invited? “You never told me Lana was Emma’s friend. Is that how you met her?”
    “Yes.”
    I feel like I’ve been hit in the gut. Jack Henry’s connection to Lana through Emma is a huge problem for me.
    “Come on. We’re going home,” he says.
    Oh hell no! Tucking my tail between my legs isn’t my forte. Leaving would make me appear upset, which I am, but also weak, which I’m not, so I have no intention of giving her that pleasure. “No. It’s too early to go home. We have a new year to ring in.” I walk toward the house. “I think I’ll have another painkiller since I’m due a stronger drink.”
    “L. Don’t get smashed because you’re angry at her.”
    “I’m not going to get drunk because I’m angry with her . I’m going to drink way more than I should because I’m pissed off at both of you.”
    “What did I do?” He tries to catch me but I make it into the house before he can grasp my arm.
    I find Evan still acting as the resident bartender. “Hey, sis. Can I do you for another?”
    “You certainly may, bro.”
    Jack Henry walks up and watches Evan mix my drink. “Get her hammered and I’m kicking your ass.”
    Evan gives him the bird and I sort of feel like doing the same thing.
    He grabs my hand and leads me into Evan and Emma’s bedroom. He shuts the door and presses me against it. “Why are you mad at me, L? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
    L. Hearing him say that puts a thought into my head. Laurelyn. Lana. “Oh my God. Did you call her L too?”
    “What?” He looks like I’ve injured him as he steps away from me. “No, of course I didn’t. That’s my special name for you.”
    He can wipe that hurt look off his face. “She used your words, McLachlan. Fuck like a champion. I can’t believe you said that to me on our honeymoon when it’s what you used to say to her.”
    He shrugs and puts his hands out. “It’s a phrase that my mates and I used to say all the time. It wasn’t something special I shared with her. In fact, I don’t recall ever telling her I was going to do that to her.”
    I don’t want to hear details about anything he might or might not have done with her. “Just stop.”
    He rakes his hands through his hair—a telltale sign of his frustration. “You are my wife. I love you. She and I were over a long time ago. You heard me tell her that, so why are you angry with me?”
    I’ve probably turned an ugly shade of green because I’m so envious of the role she has played in his life. “I’m your wife yet this other woman has molded you into the man you are.”
    He cradles my face with his hands. “Dammit,