Anything You Want: River Jewel Resort Series Book 1 Read Free

had never felt so alone. Lexi lived across town and besides, it wasn’t Lexi’s or anyone else’s job to take care of her. So, she packed some of her belongings and checked herself into a hotel. The following morning, she had Roger’s name removed from her bank account and credit cards. By that afternoon, Sydney had a tiny, affordable, apartment and a sparse arrangement of furniture.
    It was great for the first few days, but by day four, Sydney became so depressed and lethargic that she never left her humble abode. Lexi called and texted, demanding to see her but Sydney did her best to assure her friend she was fine. Lexi of course knew better and started stopping by Sydney’s place every day. After seeing her friend wearing the same pajamas and her totally unkempt appearance, Lexi drew the line.
    After the day’s coffee date with Lexi, Sydney listened to message after message from Roger. He claimed he was sorry, he pleaded for to call him back. He needed a second chance. Maybe Lexi was wrong. She didn’t need to getaway, she needed to save her marriage.  Sydney felt she owed it to herself to at least speak with Roger before she proceeded with the divorce. Maybe there was a still a chance for them after all?
    Chapter Three
    The large, Tudor-style house was dark when Sydney pulled up outside. She parked her car in the same spot she did when she lived there with Roger and sat there for a moment steeling her nerves for the conversation they were sure to have. Whether Roger liked it or not, things needed to change. Sydney wanted more from life than sitting home and waiting on him. Though she wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted, she knew there had to be something for her in the world.
    Thinking Roger was probably in his office downstairs in the basement, Sydney grabbed her keys and the divorce papers her lawyer had drawn up. When Roger was working on spreadsheets and proposals he never answered the phone or the door. No, that’d been Sydney’s job. For some reason, the thought of that irritated her now. She’d never minded taking calls for him or telling visitors he was busy, but after a month long respite from it, she found she enjoyed not being his impromptu secretary and butler. If Roger couldn’t agree to the changes and make a commitment to a fresh start, he could feel free to sign the divorce papers. The choice was his.
    Just as she thought, the door was locked. She fumbled with her keys on the darkened porch, finally getting it right on the third try. Memories assaulted her senses and tears threatened as the huge oak door swung open. That home was all she ever wanted. The winding staircase, the hand-carved molding, it was all customized to Sydney’s requests. Roger had hired contractors to build Sydney’s dream home as a wedding gift. Now, it made her sad. Everything reminded her of what Roger had done. Could she even handle living there again? With him? All she could do was try.
    “Roger? Are you home?” Her voice sounded loud as she stepped into the hallway. Though Sydney rarely raised her voice, it seemed to bounce off of the walls and echo.
    Sydney flipped the light switch located next to an antique wardrobe, a gift from her father-in-law, and the instant brightness caused her to squint against the glare. When her vision returned to normal, she made her way through the various downstairs rooms and found everything to be just as she’d left it. When she didn’t find Roger, she headed to the basement thinking that’s where he’d be. The basement door was slightly ajar and when she opened it further, she saw the light wasn’t on down there either.
    “Hello? Roger, are you down there?” No answer.
    “Where is he?” She went to the door in the kitchen that connected to the garage and opened it. His car was there. She placed her hand on top of the hood and it was cool to the touch.
    “Okay, you’ve been here for a while, Rog. So where are you?”
    It suddenly occurred to her that Roger could be