Free Marriage: Impossible (Voretti Family Book 1) by Ava Blackstone

simple statement came out as an accusation. Because he wasn’t only talking about Jordan.
    He was a project to her, same as those ex-boyfriends. And even thought it was all part of his plan, the thought of her taking off as soon as she thought he was all better made him want to put his fist through a tree trunk.
    “Our breakup was a mutual decision.”
    “Mutual, my ass. He was just afraid he’d lose his man card if he begged you to stay.”
    “For your information, he happens to be happily married.”
    Sean took a deep breath of clean mountain air. Reminded himself that he and Keri would be divorced long before he had the chance to fall for her the way poor Jordan had. “I’m not saying you screwed him over, honey. You changed his life, and only for the better. Because that’s what you do. You’re a fixer.”
    She gaped at him, like he’d called her a pole dancer or an explosive ordinance disposal specialist. “I haven’t even been on a date in almost a year.”
    “Because you’ve been busy with med school. Where you’re learning how to fix people in a different way.”
    “Or maybe I want to be able to wear a white coat and tell people what to do.”
    Her disgruntled look—all wrinkled up nose and squinty eyes—was so damn cute he couldn’t help laughing. “And make them call you doctor?”
    “Exactly. Plus, it’s a lot of work writing neatly all the time.”
    They hiked in silence for a minute, but it was a comfortable silence once again.
    “Sean?”
    “Yeah.”
    “You’re not one of my projects. In case you were wondering.”
    His chest expanded, filled with some emotion he was afraid to name, because it felt too much like happiness. And he shouldn’t be happy about this. If he was more than a project, it would be harder to sell Keri on the I’m-fine-now-so-let’s-get-a-divorce story.
    But it was impossible to turn the happy off. Not when the sun was shining and the voice inside his head was silent. And Keri was next to him.
    He focused on the trail in front of him, letting himself enjoy the peace that came with her presence. He couldn’t deny the connection between them. He needed her in his life. And, if he did this right—made sure their divorce was a mutual decision—he could still have her as a friend. A good friend.
    Before long, they arrived at the springs. Large granite boulders provided a natural basin for the water, and the grove of pines surrounding it gave the illusion of privacy. Except, it wasn’t an illusion. No one else was there.
    Apparently, there weren’t many people who wanted to climb a fifty-percent grade when they could soak in a Jacuzzi at sea level.
    If he was smart, he’d turn around and go back down the trail. He’d had his one night with Keri. Now it was time to maneuver their relationship back toward friendship territory so they could get that amicable divorce.
    But he’d worked up a sweat. In the second he hesitated, thinking about how good the water would feel, Keri stripped off her shirt.
    One look at her, and his brain stalled. His fingers went to his waistband, but he couldn’t remember how to unbutton his jeans. All he could do was stare. “You’re not wearing a bra.”
    “I can’t with that tank top. The straps show.”
    She stripped off her shorts. Then— oh shit —she took off her underwear.
    He averted his gaze just in time. He couldn’t look at that dusky triangle between her legs or it was all over. “Aren’t you…. You’re not worried we might run into someone else?”
    She laughed—a light tinkling sound that gave him a five-hundred-watt grin. “No one but us is stupid enough to take that trail. Besides, I’m not going to hike back to the truck in wet underwear.”
    She lowered herself into the small pool, and her sigh of pleasure went straight to his dick.
    “Well?” She gave him a siren’s smile. “What are you waiting for?”
    His brain still wasn’t functioning, but muscle memory kicked in, and his fingers worked the