Free Wicked All The Way (Wicked Lovers) by Shayla Black Page B

comparison, Caleb
had been fairly restrained.
    “If one of my ex-boyfriends ever treated me like that—”
    “I would show him the sharp edge of my tongue immediately,”
Carlotta assured.
    Kata smiled. “The instinct of a mother. I’ve heard you and
Mari talk about it several times. You didn’t even have to think about what
you’d do. You simply knew. What about the instinct of a man in love? You think
that’s any less strong when men like Caleb are, by nature, protectors?”
    Eduardo had loved her very much. He would have never let
Gordon or anyone talk to her that way. Why should she imagine that Caleb would
allow such a thing either?
    Carlotta’s thoughts tangled, and her head told her that Kata
had some very valid points. Her frightened, half-frozen heart kept trying to
override her logic, reminding her that her terrible past could repeat itself if
she allowed something as foolish as hope to rule her.
    “Kata, I…” But she didn’t know how to finish that sentence
because she did not know how to feel or what to say.
    “Last question,” her daughter assured. “You’re very unhappy
without Caleb now. I’m not even going to phrase that like a question because I
can see you are. But you’ve avoided being with him because you’re afraid to be
unhappy?”
    “Surely, this sadness will pass.”
    “But why should you feel it at all? When you were with him,
before the incident with Gordon, were you happy?”
    As brief as it had been… “Very.”
    Carlotta sniffled. Goodness, had she allowed herself to
create her own misery?
    “Do you really think after so many years with Gordon that
you would fall back onto the same timid path or that Caleb would be interested
in a woman he believed had no backbone?”
    No, but… She couldn’t quite find the right words to phrase
her worries.
    “You’re scared.” Kata summed it up. “I understand. Believe
me, I totally get that.”
    With precious few words, Kata zeroed in on her issue. She
was afraid of being back in that place, of being that person again.
    “But do you realize that by being too afraid to move on and
be with a wonderful man who loves you, you’re letting Gordon win? Even two
years later, even from a different state, even after the divorce, you’re
letting him dictate your life to you. You’re giving him your power.”
    Kata’s terribly honest words were a blow to the chest. A
thousand thoughts all rushed her mind at once, the loudest that her daughter
was right. If Gordon knew that he had stirred up enough fear to cause her to
leave a man who genuinely wanted to cherish her, he would relish that. The
small man would feel big. He would have the last laugh.
    “I will not let him win.” Carlotta clenched her fists,
determined to get Gordon out of her life once and for all.
    “I don’t think you should.” Kata hugged her and smiled. When
she pulled back, her eyes danced with mischief. “You know…I think Caleb is due
back in Lafayette tomorrow for the holiday. Maybe you should talk to him.”
    No maybe about it. She was no longer the timid woman whom
she had allowed Gordon to browbeat. She would not let him rule her life now.
She would not remain unhappy because of him, not when Caleb was so wonderful to
love.
    “Thank you, Mija ,
for giving me a kick. I will.”

 
    #

 
    On the pretext of visiting Mari and the boys, Carlotta left
Kata’s apartment and headed over to the new house. With only two days before
Hunter would surprise Kata with this Christmas gift meant to cement their
future, she had a lot to do to finish getting the house ready. Her trunk was
packed full of gifts for everyone, as well as all the curtains, throw pillows,
area rugs, and other accessories she would need to complete the rooms. Hunter
would surprise Kata with a night in Dallas tomorrow, some “couple” time before
the holiday started. Everyone else would move the furniture in so that when
they returned for the party on Christmas Eve, their new home would be