Free Illusions of Love by Ella Price

have to think about a personal life.
    “I
could have seen you being a model, maybe a porn star. You did have some moves,”
he teased.
    I
smacked his shoulder and he laughed. “I am glad you had such high expectations
for me.”
    “Well
you did date me. I mean that didn’t speak well for you.” He was teasing me and
I felt my cheeks starting to redden even more.
    “Unfortunately
I agree,” I muttered.
    “Ouch,”
he said amused.
    I
sighed. “So any girlfriends I should know about? Hidden trust funds? Anything
that might surprise me?”
    He
gave me his best innocent look after he parked. “Never. I already got my trust
fund, and I am married. I don’t cheat.”
    My
mouth fell open in surprise. He had to be teasing me, but he looked serious.
“You’re joking right?” I asked a little nervous that he was serious.
    “Maybe,”
he said as he climbed out. I couldn’t read his tone. I wasn’t sure if he was
being funny or serious.
    He
held my door for me and I climbed out. “What do you mean maybe? It is a yes or
no question.”
    He
smiled as he offered his arm. “I mean if you stick around long enough I might
tell you.”
    I
narrowed my eyes at him, but didn’t say anything as I laced my arm through his.
He was definitely different. He was more of a gentleman and less of an unruly
young stud.
    He
led me up the sidewalk to a small Italian bistro. I had been there once or
twice. It was a nice little restaurant. It would give us plenty of privacy to
talk. I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to talk. The longer I was around him the
more I thought about how things used to be between us. I looked up at him. He
was both a little confusing and intriguing. I wanted to know more about what he
has been doing. He smiled down at me like he knew exactly what I was thinking.
I quickly looked away as he led me inside the restaurant. We were immediately
seated, and he ordered a bottle of wine.
    “So
what about you? Any boyfriends since me?” he asked. He attempted to keep his
tone light, but I could hear the hesitation in his voice like he didn’t really
want to know.
    I
shrugged. “A date here and there, but nothing serious. I was too involved in
work. I still am,” I said giving him as vague of an answer as I could.
    He
nodded in agreement. “I understand, I have been the same way. I am trying to
advance my company as much as possible while I am still young.”
    “How
is everyone back home?” I asked changing the subject.
    “Same
as always. You know that town will never change.” He had an amused expression
on his face like he knew how uncomfortable he made me. I hated it, but I was
uncomfortable. I was uncomfortable because I was afraid of falling for him
again. I still felt something for him. I would have liked to say it was all
anger, but it wasn’t. “I want you to have some of the money,” he said after a
few minutes of awkward silence.
    I
shook my head. “I don’t want your money Cole. I never did. A piece of paper
says we were married. We have never functioned as a married couple. It is your
money. I am capable of making my own money.”
    “I
am aware of that. I am not taking no for an answer. I already had your part
transferred to an account for you.” As he spoke he pulled a checkbook and a
debit card out of his inside jacket pocket.
    I
crossed my arms defiantly and scowled at him. “I don’t want it.”
    He
smiled. “I don’t care. It’s there whether you use it or not; that is up to you.
My conscience will at least be clear.”
    I
scoffed. “Well I am glad it is so simple for you. Is that why you asked me out?
So you could force your money on me and clear your conscience?”
    He
continued to smile, unfazed by my sudden mood change. “Partly; I also wanted to
see you and catch up. I will only be in town for a little while; then I am
going to France.”
    “Oh,”
I said softly a little caught off guard. “What’s in France, if you don’t mind
me asking?”
    He
shrugged. “Just a change of