Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

James was a tall man, which only made the fellow he was helping along seem even thinner and frailer by comparison.

At the moment, the drunken man was draped over James's shoulder, blubbering and wailing, "You don't love me, why don't you love me anymore?" in a pitiful tone.

Lorna arched an eyebrow, her red lips curving in a sly pout. Before she could stop herself, she let out a sharp, teasing wolf whistle.

James halted mid-step and looked up.

Their eyes met. A scowl creased James's brow-his annoyance with Lorna was written all over his face, plain as day even in the dim light.

But Lorna noticed and was utterly unfazed.

Her gaze drifted from the tear-streaked man to James's face.

With a provocative lift of her elegant brows, she shot James a wicked smile. "Well, well, Mr. Delaney-seems like you're irresistible to both men and women, huh?”

James shot her a glare. "Get lost."

"Ooh, touchy!" Lorna whistled again, then opened her car door and slid inside with a flourish.

Rolling down the window, she leaned out, belting in a melodramatic sing-song, "Love really takes courage to face all those rumors—"

James just stared, speechless.

Insane. Absolutely insane.

engine, slowly backing out

at James one last time, lips curving into an impish grin. She stuck a delicate hand out the window. "See

car darted onto the main road, vanishing into the night faster than you could

terrible taste in friends as he helped Joseph into his own

in the morning by the time James returned to

night. James made

...

six the next morning, the soft cries

was a powerful

Stella,

Once

the queen of

now had her internal clock

eyes and glanced at Briony, who was still fast asleep beside her, then slipped quietly

door, stepped into the hallway, and gently closed it behind

the door

all-she'd finally drifted off after three, only to wake from a restless dream

sleep so

hope of more rest,

as James was lacing up