Free INDISPENSABLE: Part 3: A Billionaire Romance by Maryann Barnett Page B

me. I mean, just tell me. I won’t be offended. I know I have the…tendency…to like being in control.”
    Heather made a weird noise, and he just caught her eye roll before she spoke. “Understatement of the century.”
    Brock looked back to Jodie, as she set down her cutlery.
    “What are you saying, Brock?” Jodie looked hard at him, as she questioned.
    This was way harder than he thought. What if she hated the idea of divorce? What if she loved it? There was only one way through this. “Have you ever thought about a divorce?”
    Jodie’s eyes went wide, and she coughed a little with her hand over her mouth, and her eyes as wide as a plate. Heather hooted, and Brock looked at her.
    Heather fist-pumped the air. “Hell to the yes !”
    “Heather!” Jodie scolded her. “Have a thought for your father’s feelings.” Jodie cleared her throat and clearly composed herself. “Yes, Brock, I have thought about divorce.”
    “Only every day in the last five years.” Heather announced before she took another bite. Brock stared at her, but she just eyed him back and chewed her food. Heather grabbed another quiche and stood up. “Okay, parents. I’m down with this. I’m off to my room. Yell when you’re leaving, Dad.”
    Brock was speechless. What could he say to that? He looked at Jodie, and she had half a smile on her face. “Kids, what’ya gonna do with ‘em?”
    “Why didn’t you say you wanted a divorce? Why did you tell Heather you did?” Brock wasn’t sure if he should be angry or hurt. In the end, he was just curious.
    “I never told Heather. She’s a clever girl. She worked out I wasn’t so happy; she asked me at Christmas last year what was wrong.”
    “Why didn’t you just ask me for a divorce then?”
    “Because of the way you are. You’ve stood by me for all this time. I couldn’t just ask for a divorce. I’m not sure what’s brought this change of heart for you, but six months ago, you wouldn’t have taken it so well.”
    “That’s true. It doesn’t matter, I guess, but I hate that I’ve stopped you from loving and being loved.”
    “No. You haven’t.”
    Brock was shocked this time. “You mean, you’ve got a boyfriend?”
    “Are you angry?” Jodie’s smile lit up her eyes. How could he be angry?
    “If he loves you. If he has your best interests at heart, and Heather’s.” Brock was going to say, As long as he doesn’t want you for your money . However, he had no right to think Jodie couldn’t find herself a sincere man to love her. “He’s a very lucky man.”
    “Oh, Brock. Thank you for everything. I’m a very lucky woman to have had you and Heather all these years.”
    “You’ll still have me. Anything you need. If I still get quiche.”
    “I’m sure I can manage that.”
    “I’ll get the paperwork drawn up ASAP.” Brock smiled and took another quiche from the plate.
    “I hope this means you’ve found someone as well.” Jodie looked at him as she spoke.
    Brock thought a minute, as he munched and swallowed. “It means I have the opportunity now, anyway.”
    “Don’t be afraid of love, Brock. It’s wonderful. If we don’t learn to trust and to love someone, all the hard times will have been a waste. In the end, love is the greatest revenge and the greatest cleanser.”
    She was right, of course. Brock craved loved as much as anyone. He knew that now. The problem was, the one he loved needed space. Just don’t let her be lonely. Bella’s words came back to him.
    “Jodie, give me a woman’s point of view. If I had to ‘give someone space’ but ‘not let her be lonely’ what exactly would that mean?”
    “You know how you always gave me my own time, but you always sent me texts or gave a call, first thing in the morning, last thing at night. Flowers for birthday, mother’s day, valentine’s day.”
    He nodded.
    “But still what I did outside of that time was my choice. We’d discuss it sometimes, but you never judged me, and you never said